It’s the month of May so it’s time to start getting exciting about the biggest IndyCar race of the year – and always one of my favourite race weekends – the Indianapolis 500.

Of course this year’s event will be tinged with sadness as Dan Wheldon, who won the centenary race last year in such thrilling fashion, is no longer with us. The race organisers will no doubt make an effort to commemorate him – the tickets for this year’s race bear his image.

The changes in IndyCar this year mean we are likely to see a smaller entry than usual, though probably enough to reach the usual 33 starters. It’s going to be tough for the teams with the underpowered Lotus engines, though.

Sam Schmidt Motorsport have just annoucned Townsend Bell will be driving for them:

Alesi is going to be scrapping with Katherine Legge for 32nd on the grid then. Can’t see him having more than Bourdais and Simona in the other B class cars.

Or, if Jay Howard gets a deal in a Honda/Chevy powered car, Jean will just be hoping to qualify. With a career like his it seems a bit of a waste of time, as much as I’m looking forward to seeing him compete at the Speedway.

I can’t understand why he’d do this with a tiny team with no IndyCar experience, only Indy Lights?

Never having run on an oval, he may have to change his shorts after qualifying. Entering corners at over 220 mph and trimmed out with as little down force as he can dare run will be a frightening experience for him.

This has epic fail written all over it. I hope he’s still in one piece when it’s over.

It’s hard to imagine him being any kind of force (no pun intended) but still great to see him entering. He should be driving the car tomorrow. Presumably Lotus have quite a few spare engines now so at least there’s that…

I’m a little worried about it. 47, not driven a single-seater in a decade, down-on-power Lotus engine, first time at Indy… frankly I think it’s a stupid idea from all sides. I’d be very happy to be proven wrong, but Lotus are incredibly good at PR own goals. Alesi being considered unsafe to race or leaving the circuit in an ambulance would follow that theme.

Not that I think Alesi is rubbish. It’s the combination of factors that makes me think he’ll have a tough time.